While the rule change falls short of a full digital nomad visa, it’s now easier to work while visiting New Zealand.
Working from home has become quite the privilege in the post-pandemic era. While some companies are rolling back work-from-home rules, others have enshrined them in their culture, actively encouraging workers to stay home and avoid the commute.
While most of us might be confined to the dining table or bedroom desk on work-from-home days, there’s now another option. How about working from home in New Zealand for a proposal?
New Zealand’s government is relaxing the rules around visas to allow those on tourist visits to continue their work while visiting the country.
Under the new rules, which came in on Monday 27 January, tourists will be allowed to work remotely for a foreign employer under the country’s new ‘digital nomad’ initiative.
What do the New Zealand visa rule changes mean?
“The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto a faster growth track,” growth minister Nicola Willis says. “Making the country more attractive to ‘digital nomads’ – people who work remotely while travelling – will boost New Zealand’s attractiveness as a destination.”
The government hopes that, by making it easier for people to work from the country, visitors will be encouraged to stay longer, meaning they’ll spend more and boost the economy in the process.
New Zealand’s economy has been struggling in recent years, falling into a technical recession in the third quarter of 2024. HSBC described the country as ‘suffering the biggest hit in the world in 2024’ as interest rates and inflation strained the country’s economy.
“This is a brand-new market of tourists New Zealand can tap into,” says immigration minister Erica Stanford. “We want people to see our country as the ideal place to visit and work while they do it.”
Who can apply for New Zealand’s digital nomad visa?
The move by New Zealand doesn’t involve a digital nomad visa as such – rather, it is a relaxation of rules that apply to current visas for visiting the country.
The government says that, from 27 January, anyone on a visitor visa will be allowed to work for a foreign employer while holidaying for up to 90 days.
The new rules also apply to visas held by people visiting family and those who are on longer-term visas.
However, the rules only apply to those undertaking remote work for overseas companies. Those whose employment requires them to be in New Zealand, such as salespeople and performers, must still obtain visas relevant to their circumstances.
Tourist visas have a six- or three-month validity, but the New Zealand government says people can request an extension of up to nine months to allow them to stay longer.
“Many countries offer digital nomad visas and the list is growing, so we need to keep pace to ensure New Zealand is an attractive destination for people who want to ‘workcation’ abroad,” says tourism minister Louise Upton.
“Compared to other kinds of visitors, international remote workers have the potential to spend more time and money in New Zealand, including during the shoulder season.”
Is this a precursor to a full digital nomad visa for New Zealand?
The ruling in New Zealand is a little different to the implementation of digital nomad visas elsewhere. Countries such as Spain, Greece, Indonesia and Malaysia have launched digital nomad schemes that require proper visa applications and adherence to rules.
For New Zealand, it’s a much easier process. Visitors simply apply for their regular tourist visa as usual, but with the knowledge they are allowed to work while they’re in the country.
There is hope among the nomadic community that a full visa is in the works, although this rule relaxation could remove some of the urgency related to this.
“While this is not an official digital nomad visa, it is a step in the right direction for digital nomads who want to explore New Zealand,” says Nomads Embassy, a visa support service. “In fact, it takes away some of the bureaucratic headache that comes with applying for digital nomad visas.”
The best locations for digital nomads in New Zealand
There are plenty of reasons to pick New Zealand as a place to work from. Aside from its stunning scenery, safe environment and outdoorsy lifestyle, it has excellent WiFi coverage in towns and cities and friendly locals to help you get around.
The big cities such as Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton offer all the amenities a digital nomad could want, as well as fast and widely available connectivity. If your business relies on networking to find clients or to connect with other nomads, the cities are a good choice for a base.
However, not everything happens in the city, and New Zealand’s smaller towns have a lot to offer the intrepid traveller.
Small towns such as Queenstown, Tauranga, Dunedin and Nelson have strong, supportive communities, and Queenstown in particular is a popular destination for digital nomads.
Picking a smaller town comes with advantages, notably a lower cost of living. Rents, groceries and eating out are all far cheaper once you get outside of the city. As the towns are surrounded by New Zealand’s stunning natural wonders, they also mean you’ll only be a stone’s throw from your next outdoor adventure.
A fun town worth a mention is Mount Maunganui, up on the east coast of the North Island. A short drive from Tauranga and Auckland, it sports a thriving digital nomad community and even has a well-equipped coworking space to meet like-minded individuals.
